Corolla Fuel

[toybin]

G'day,

I have a little problem with the mighty Corolla. It seems to be using too much fuel and fuel is expensive. I have cahnged the Air filter and the plugs seem fine. Is there possibly something else that could be wrong. It is a 1991 Corolla 1.6 XLI.

Thanks for any tips.

Philip.

[Kelvyn]

Check the lambda/O2 sensor

[toybin]

Thanks for the tip, but does that mean a garage (specialist) visit or is it something that I can do? The wires seem to be fine.

<_<

[toybin]

I just saw the message to someone else to check the Oxygen Sensor Main, this I guess I can do according to the instructions.

[toybin]

Toyota Corolla :excessive fuel use again; I made a mistake, the lamba sensor is not what I thought it was. Where is the Lamba sensor? On my other car, an Opel(German Holden), it sits in the exhaust manifold, easy to see. The sensor on the Corolla is somewhere else. If I could find a handbook for it maybe I could work it out.

:(

[Kelvyn]

Should be in the downpipe, definately before the catalytic converter.

[chrisfitton]

Ive got exactly same proble, high fuel useage think ill check this out asap.

[toybin]

I found the sensor under the car just in front of the inverter. The wires there seemed fine. I don't really see how that sensor can affect the petrol consumption though. Maybe someone has a few more words on the matter before I have to take it somewhere for a (expensive) diagnosis.

Regards.

[Kelvyn]

In the simplest terms the lambda/O2 sensor actually measures the amount of unburnt fuel and sends a signal to the engine ECU telling it to either add more fuel or reduce it. If the sensor fails then the ECU is programmed to keep the engine safe so it overfuels rather than let the engine run lean (which can cause things like holes burnt through the piston tops and burnt valve seats). The wires may indeed look fine but its the condition of a special coating on the sensor inside the exhaust that counts. If its anything like the MR2 then its possible to check the function yourself if you have an electronic multi meter and a little know how. Dont know what mileage your car has done but apparently its recommended that the lambda sensor is changed every 60,000 miles. Check out http://www.justlambda.co.uk for prices and availability.

[toybin]

Thanks again for the info. I will get onto that and check it out on the weekend. The mighty Opel failed its Mot (equivalant). So the Toyota needs to be in top form, it has done about 165,000 kms, I guess about 100,000 miles. Apart from the rust it goes like a beaut. In Sweden it is nearly time for the winter tyres and extra strain on the cars.

Toybin

:)

[Leaping Salmon]

I've had the same problem with high fuel consumption, and recently failed my MOT on emissions. Looks like I need to replace my Lambda Sensor at the very least and probably my CAT.

The sensor is £120+VAT from Toyota, so was hoping ot get one of the universal ones, however, the supplier says I need to know what colour wires it has. At the moment I have no pit or ramps and get to the part to remove it and see what colour wires it has.... could anyone tell me what colour/number they will be? I have a Toyota Corolla G6 from 1998 (and it's verging on a pink colour!).

Thanks!